'Heroic' Mystery Stories

  • Thread starter Thread starter alcuin18
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

alcuin18

Guest
Hello! I have always been a fan of mystery/crime fiction, particularly on TV but also novels and short stories. I love Sherlock Holmes, Poirot, Father Brown, Father Dowling, Monk, Death in Paradise, and on and on. In the past, most of my experience with mysteries was TV, and I have recently been looking for more mystery books. But, I’ve experienced several difficulties in this search, and it’s made me realizing something: I don’t just like any story with a mystery. Rather, I like what I call ‘heroic’ mystery, meaning mysteries and crime fiction with protagonists who are specifically doing what they do to fight evil and help people, and who are themselves likeable, admirable and self-sacrificing. Not perfect, but consistently trying to be good and to help others.

This realization explains my difficulties, because in the majority of mystery stories I’ve looked at, especially more modern ones, the main protagonist(s) are almost as bad as the criminals. At best, they’re bitter, arrogant, petty and only doing it as a job; at worst, they’re corrupt, abusive, lax and only doing it for power or the enjoyment of crime itself. These stories seem to glorify crime, rather than fighting evil heroically and helping people.

These reasons I said all this is leading to a request: Could anyone offer some good examples of ‘heroic’ (as I’ve defined it above) mystery/crime fiction? I particularly like British stories, but if they fit my preferences I’m not really concerned about their origin.

I’d really appreciate the help. God bless! 🙂
 
I recommend every book by Graham Greene you can lay hands on. 🙂
 
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Knox#Detective_fiction

amazon.com/gp/product/0967714311

amazon.com/gp/product/0486244938

amazon.com/gp/product/0486250326

Ronald Knox was a hugely lovable detective author. He’s most well known for his beautiful translations of the Latin Vulgate and The Imitation of Christ, and his extremely prolific output of books on Catholicism, but the detective novels he wrote might be exactly the kind of thing your looking for. I’ve enjoyed the ones I’ve read, at least, but bear in mind that they are quite old, and thoroughly British. (If that makes sense.) The three up above are easiest to find, but he did others, too.

And always remember, Bookfinder is your friend :):

bookfinder.com/

Again though, Graham Greene was a flawless writer and storyteller. I couldn’t say enough positive, nice things about him, really. A literary master, who’s books are a hoot and actually fun to read. They’re totally immersive. I’d try him first.

Oh, and I also love these three:

amazon.com/Eleven-Other-Tales-Medical-Detection/dp/B0007EYAGY

amazon.com/Curiosities-Medicine-Assembly-Diversions-1552-1962/dp/B000FODYAE

amazon.com/Incurable-Further-Narratives-Medical-Detection/dp/B000GM0RHS
 
Thank you all for your great references, they look like exactly what I’m wanting. If anyone else can think of others please let me know, and anyone else here who’s interested. 🙂
 
Just out of curiosity, what do you guys think about Sharon Kay Penman’s medieval mysteries?
 
alcuin18 said:
This realization explains my difficulties, because in the majority of mystery stories I’ve looked at, especially more modern ones, the main protagonist(s) are almost as bad as the criminals. At best, they’re bitter, arrogant, petty and only doing it as a job; at worst, they’re corrupt, abusive, lax and only doing it for power or the enjoyment of crime itself. These stories seem to glorify crime, rather than fighting evil heroically and helping people.
Click to expand...
To answer your primary question, the Brother Cadfael series is very good, though Cadfael is shown to be far from perfect, he does try to do right not only by the victims, but by God.

However, IMO I think the original Sherlock Holmes often comes close to being “bitter, arrogant, petty and only doing it as a job”; the main character of House, MD was actually meant to be a modern version of Holmes. (I believe the creator of the character also meant it as a homage to the RL physician who actually was Doyle’s model for Holmes.)

However I can also think of many instances of Holmes actually showing he has a heart and does not see crime solving as merely an intellectual exercise for his own self stimulation.

The Adventure of the Cardboard Box, for example, includes this reflection at the end. A paraphrase from the TV adaptation is quoted in the Wikipedia article on the story. (I will let people look it up themselves, though, as the article gives away the whole plot.)
He asks toward what end mortals pursue “this circle of misery, violence, and fear”, concluding that “it must have a purpose, or else our universe has no meaning, which is unthinkable. But what purpose? That, is humanity’s great problem, to which reason so far, has no answer.”
Click to expand...
And if you like TV mysteries, the “Homicide Hunter” documentary series on ID is one of the few I watch on a regular basis, I find most of the other ID shows to be too sensational. The protagonist, Joe Kenda, certainly appears quite cynical and world-weary at times, but I always get the impression he is emotionally affected by the cases and cares about the victims.
 
Thank you ToeInTheWater. I definitely think there are a lot of mystery stories where the main protagonist detective is fundamentally heroic, even if imperfect, like Holmes, Poirot, Brother Cadfael, Miss Marple, and shows like Criminal Minds, NCIS, etc. One of my favorites is Father Brown; the modern TV show is amazing, particularly being so Catholic despite being developed by a modern non-religious network. May I ask your opinion of the P.C. Doherty and Sharon Kay Penman mysteries?
 
alcuin18 said:
Thank you ToeInTheWater. I definitely think there are a lot of mystery stories where the main protagonist detective is fundamentally heroic, even if imperfect, like Holmes, Poirot, Brother Cadfael, Miss Marple, and shows like Criminal Minds, NCIS, etc. One of my favorites is Father Brown; the modern TV show is amazing, particularly being so Catholic despite being developed by a modern non-religious network. May I ask your opinion of the P.C. Doherty and Sharon Kay Penman mysteries?
Click to expand...
Well, I unfortunately haven’t read them, but now that you have recommended them and we appear to have similar tastes for mysteries, I will certainly look into them. I am quite busy these days and hardly have time to read for leisure, but I do have a vacation coming up next month.
 
Two suggestions:

mpir-otr.com is a free stream of old time radio dramas featuring a good number of detective and mystery stories that might be up your alley (e.g. “Let George Do It”, “Dragnet”, “Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar”)

Also if you have Netflix I would always recommend episodes of Columbo.
 
Have you seen the series “Shetland” on Netflix? Enjoyable mysteries, set on an island with amazing photography, and the detective is admirable.

.
 
ToeInTheWater, Doherty’s are a little more anachronistic, but they aren’t bad. I would recommend both of them. 🙂

Mike and Viki, thanks for the recommendations. I’ve seen that Shetland show on Netflix and wondered if it’s good, I’ll have to try it sometime. 🙂
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top